Apparatus for elevating oil



W. R. STUCK.

APPARATUS FOR ELEVATING OIL.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 5, 1919.

Patented Mar. 21, 1922.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1- Ill/A INVENTOR PIG/[tam 22.5fm

BY J a? I I/l ATTORNEYS W. R. STUCK.

APPARATUS FOR ELEVATING OIL.

APPLICATION FILED ||1AR.'5, I919.

lNVENTOR Wu'am JLSiuc/t BY J 0? @AM ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT APPARATUS FOR ELEVATING- OIL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 21, 1922.

Application filed March 5, 1919. Serial No. 280,743.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM R. STUCK, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city and county ofySan Franciscoand State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Elevating Oil, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a method of elevating oil and'an apparatus therefor.

.There have i been various methods employed to elevate oil; such, for example, as the use of a piston having reciprocal movement, the use of mechanism for baling the oil and'various systems whereby compressed air has been delivered to the bottom of the well to elevate the oil. All of these methods have had their objections and have in most cases been expensive to carry out and dithcult to maintain in proper working condition.

The systems which have employed mechanical means to elevate'the oil have re quired constant repair and have also utilized a considerable motive power. In the cases where a fluid has been used to elevate the oil, a high pressure hasbeenrequired to elevate a column of oil and in many instances the fluid used has combined with the oil to produce an objectionable emulsifica tion. In View of the various objections to the methods previously mentioned, it is the object of the present invention to provide aisystem of elevating oil which will insure that a constant flow of oil will be produced by, a minimum .flow of compressed fluid at a low pressure, at the same time utilizing the well pressure to assist or continue the elevation of the oil.

The present invention contemplates the use of a gas compressor incommunication with an injector nozzle disposed within a well casing and which is connected with a flow pipe by which vaporized oil may be carried to the surface of the ground and emptied into a receiving tank, there to be separated from the compressed gas and the gas thereafter returned to the initial compressing means and re-used.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a view in section and eleva tion, illustrating the complete apparatus used for carrying out the present s stern.

Fig. 2 1s a fragmentary view 0 a modified form of the gas inlet jet.

Fig, 3 is a View in section and elevation, llustrating the upper end of the well casmg and the oil receiving tank connected therewith, further disclosing means for separ'at mg solid matter from fluid in the oil.

F g. 4 is an enlarged view in transverse septlon, illustrating the formation of an oil e Referring more articularly to the drawings, 10 indicates the outer casing of a weii, here shown as closed at the top hymeans of a threaded cap 11. Positioned within this casing is a tube 12 which is formed in sections and may be connected by any sort of couplings. The upper end of this tube is closed and extends through an o ening in the cap 11. At a point above this cap the well tube 12 is fitted with a gas pipe 13, which leads to a compression dome 1a, ear ried upon and in communication with the compression chamber of a rotary compressor It will be understood that reciprocating compressors could be used, if desired. However, this type of compressor has been found quite advantageous in connection with the present system.

The lower end of the tube 12 is titted with an e ector case 16. This ejector is cylindrical and is connected to the pipes 12 by means of threaded collars 17, it being p'referable that the outside diameters of the pipes 12 and the e ector case 16 are equal.

in the form of the device shown in Fig.

1, the ejector case is provided withan inlet passageway 18 communicating with the inn :terior of the tube 12. The lower end of this passageway is enlarged to form a chamber for a foot valve 19. This valve is here shown as a ball valve carried within a casing 20 and adapted to normally seat against the upper wall of the valve chamber toclose the passageway 18. A nozzle member 21 is secured in the lower end of the valve "statially with the inside diameter of the passageway 23. However, the lower end of this passageway is enlarged to provide an annular inlet opening around the end of the nozzle. Due to this construction the well pressure will act around the nozzle and its tendency will be to force the gas and oil within the well upwardly through a pipe 24.

In the event that an excessive well pressure exists, the valve member 19 will, of course, be seated and the well pressure will be entirely directed through the pipe 24 and outwardly into a combined sand and oil tank 25. This tank is mounted above the ground and stands vertically. A horizontal pipe 26 extends through the side Wall of the tank and is directly connected to the vertically extending pipe 24.

Th end of the pipe 26 Within the tank is upturned and is there fitted with a circular bafiie plate 27, against which the fluid, liquid and solid matter will strike. The solids, such as sand, will, of course, fall into the bottom of the tank and may be drained out by opening the valve member 28. The liquids will settle in the bottom of the tank and may be maintained at a desired level by regulation of the combined trap and outflow pipe 29. This pipe is connected to the tank near its lower end and is there fitted with a swivel 30. The main portion of the ipe is U-shaped and thus forms a siphon. t will readily be understood that as the member 29 is swung through a vertical plane the bend in the pipe will regulate the level of the li uid within the tank 25.,

e gas which is delivered to the tank 25 will pass upwardly and will then travel through a return pipe 31 to a rotary vacuum ump 32. The outlet of the vacuum pump is fitted with a condensing drum 33, within which a-baflle member 34 is mounted. This will act to cause condensation of an oil which might be carried in the gas, t ereafter delivering it with the gas to a reservoir tank 35. The lower end of this tank is fitted with an oil drain 36, while the upper end is provided with a gas outlet pipe 37. The outlet pipe 37 is then led in any convenient manner to the inlet connection 38 of the gas compressor 15 previously referred to.

In the form of the device shown in Fig. 2 the ejector is of modified design. In this instance the valve member 19 is mounted over the end of the member 22; there being fitted with a valve cage 20. By this construction the valve andits cage will be placed in the path of flow of the oil and gas and thus will ensure that the ejector may be more easily separated and repaired, when desired, or assembled. It will, however, be evident that various shapes of nozzles and ejector casings may be designed to meet different requirements and to be accommodated within pipes of different diameters. It will also be apparent that the passageway 18 may be other than circular in section, so that a desired volume of gas may flow to the nozzle even though the pipe 12 is of small dimensions,

In the operation of the present invention, the two pumps 15 and 32 are continuously driven and they will, therefore, produce a pressure of gas within the pipe 22 and a suction through the flow pipe 24. The suction or vacuum action of the pump 32 may be readily regulated by the operation of a bypass valve 38 carried in a pipe 39 which connects the vacuum pump directly with the return pipe 31. When the pumps are thus driven the pipe 12 will be completely filled with gas under pressure, except within the space occupied by the flow pipe 24. This compressed gas will open the check valve 19 in the ejector casing and will force itself directly beneath the column of oil in the flow pipe.

As the gas gradually rises in the column of oil, a vaporization will take place which will render the fluid and liquid lighter than the column of oil, thus ensuring that it will readily flow up the pipe 24 and into the receiver tank 25. This performance is contrary to that which ordinarily takes place in compressed air o-il lifts, for in the present instance it is unnecessary to deeply submerge the ejector nozzle, thus making it possible to set up an elevating action within the flow pipe without overcoming the weight of the large head of oil therein.

The present arrangement also ensures that the gas will be delivered directly beneath the column of oil and will act upwardly therethrough. Thus the upward pressure of the gas delivered through the pipe 12 will combine with the gas within the well and the oil will thereafter be acted upon by a force equal to the well pressure plus the pressure exerted by the pump 15.

It will also be noted that the pump 32 will entirely relieve atmospheric pressure from above the column of oil Within the pipe 24 and will allow the well pressure to elevate the gas without assistance. In fact, a practical demonstration of the present invention has proven that under most circumstances the delivery of gas through thenozzle 22 is only required. to start the flow, after which this gas may be cut off and the action of the vacuum pump 32 utilized to combine with the well pressure and produce a continuous flow of oil to the receiver tank. The oil and gas passing to the receiver tank will till nei aes strike the deflector plate 27 where the oil and solids will be caused to fall to the bottom of this tank. An accumulation of the solids within this tank may be carried away by opening the valve 28, while the oil may be drawn off through the siphon pipe 29. The gas will pass from the receiving tank 25 to the vacuum pump 32 through pipe 31 and will thereafter be delivered to the gas tank 35 through the delivery pipe 35.

Attention is particularly directed to the fact that in the present system it is unnecessary to deeply submerge the gas inlet jet. In the systems of gas elevation of oil previously used, the gas has been delivered beneath a column of oil of considerable length and the structures have made it necessary that a column of oil of equal length would initially stand within the gas inflow pipe. When gas pressure is delivered to such a system it will be evident that before the gas will break through the column of oil it Wlll be necessary to force out all of the oil in the gas intake pipe and force this oil into the flow pipe, thus doubling the length of column in the flow pipe. Such an arrangement has been impractical as the gas must be delivered at a very high pressure and must be admitted at a considerable depth in order to operate. In the present arrangement the gas is admitted beneath a small column of oil and provision is made for supplying this gas with sufficient volume, so that a very low pressure will be used. It has also been proven that where there is a normal or high well pressure, the inlet nozzle does not require submersion in the oil but will assist the well pressure in drawing the oil up as the atmospheric pressure is relieved from the top of the tank by the suction pump 32. Thus it will be assured that the present system may be maintained by operating a low pressure gas feed with little or no submergence of the inlet jet with a resultant snliall operating cost and immaterial repair bi ls.

It will thus be observed that the entire system is in continuous communication and that the gas utilized in elevating the oil and the gas producing the well pressure will be accumulated in the tank 35 and may be continuously used. By this method a very small power plant will be required to maintain the pumps 15 and 32 in operation, and due to their peculiar construction the apparatus may be run for long. intervals of time without repair.

Reference being had to Fig. 3, it will be noted that the receiving tank 25 is formed with a circular battle ring 40 which extends downwardly and inwardly and has an open mouth disposed directly over a conical screen 41. This screen is supported by brackets over the open end of the pipe 26. A drum member 42 is disposed within the receiving tank 25 and is provided to prevent a forced draft around the opened end of the pipe 28, which would tend to carry the solid particles upwardly through the receiving tank and into the return pipe 31. it is intended that the solid matter within the gas and oil will be deflected outwardly by the conical screen 41 and will be trapped beneath the bafie member 40, thereafter forming the bottom. of the receiver. In order to make it unnecessary for the apparatus to be stopped when sand is to be drawn from the receiver, valves 28 and 28 are provided. These valves are suitably interposed along the length of an outlet pipe 29 and are spaced from each other a sufficient distance to allow the solid content of the receiving tank to pass through the valve 28 and to prevent it to be closed, after which the valve 28 is opened.

As the parts of the motor are the only moving parts in the whole structure, it will be very easy to permit a continuous flow of the well without a shutdown, except when certain of the valves and pipes are worn away by the abrasive action of the sand carried within the oil.

Due to the fact that the gas pressure does not oppose the well pressure, and that the gas has considerable buoyancy, it is possible to maintain the apparatus in operation at a very small cost and it is contended that the production of the well will be materially increased and an oil of higher specific gravity obtained. The use of gas also makes it possible to obtain ready fuel for furnishing motive power for the compressors used in the system and will at all times furnish suiiicient gas for lifting purposes.

While I have shown the preferred form of my invention as now known to me, it will be understood that various changes in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention as disclosed in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. An apparatus for elevating oil comprising a well casing, a pumping tube telescoped therein and with its lower end sub merged in a body of oil, a How pipe extending downwardly through the pumping tube, said tube being sealed at its upper end around the pipe, an ejector casing mounted upon the lower end of the tube and receiving the lower end of the pipe, a valve member within said casing adapted to close when the pressure below the casing is greater than that within the upper portion of the casing, a gas compressor in communication with the tube. the gas compressed thereby being adapted to flow through the ejector casing, a nozzle for the gas directing it beneath a column of oil within the flow tube, a receiving tank in communication with the upper end of the flow pipe, means for placing said tank under a continuous vacuum, a gas storage tank in communication with said vacuum means, and a return pipe connecting the gas storage tank with the gas compressor.

2. An apparatus for elevating oil comprising -a well casing, a pumping tube telescoped therein and with its lower end submerged in a body of oil, a flow pipe extending downwardly through the pumping tube, said tube being sealed at its upper end around the pipe, an ejector casing mounted upon the lower end of the tube and receiving the lower end of the pipe, a valve member within said casing adapted to close when the pressure below the casing is greater than that within the upper portion of the easing, a as compressor in communication with the tu e, the gas compressed thereby being adapted to flow through the e'ector casing, a nozzle for the gas directing it beneath a column of oil within the flow tube, a receiving tank in communication with the upper end of the flow pipe, means for placing said tank under a continuous vacuum, a gas storage tank in communication with said vacuum means, a return pipe connecting the gas storage tank with the gas compressor, and means whereby oil may be accumulated in the receiving tank to a predetermined level and drawn therefrom.

3. An apparatus for elevating oil comprising a well casing, a pumping tube telescoped therein and with its lower end sub merged in a body of oil, a flow pipe extending downwardly through the pumping tube, said tube being sealed at its upper end around the pipe, an ejector casing mounted upon the lower end of the tube and receiving the lower end of the pipe, a valve mem-.

ber within said casing adapted to close when the pressure below the casing is greater than that within the upper portion of the casing, a gas compressor in communication with the tube, the gas compressed thereby being adapted to flow through the ejector casing, a nozzle for the gas directing it beneath a column of oil within the flow tube, a receiving tank in communication with the upper end of the flow pipe, means for placing said tank under a continuous vacuum, a gas storage tank in communication with said vacuum means, a return pipe connecting the gas storage tank with the gas compressor, means whereby oil may be accumu lated in the receiving tank to a predetermined level and drawn therefrom, and means for separating solid matter from the valve member interposed between the nozzle and the passageway communicating therewith, whereby back pressure will close the valve.

5. An apparatus for elevating oil comprising a well casing, a pumping tube telescoped therein and with its lower end submerged in a body of oil, a flow pipe extending downwardly through the pumping tube, said tube being sealed at its upper end around the pipe, an ejector casing mounted upon the lower end of the tube thereby forming a chamber therein, a nozzle having its open end directed within the flow pipe, a communicating valve passage between the nozzle and the said chamber, a check valve in said passage, a gas compressor communicating with the pumping tube and adapted to discharge gas through the valve passage and the nozzle into the flow pipe anddirect a'column of oil therein to an evacuated tank in communication with the flow pipe, and means for returning the gas entering the tank to the compressor.

6. An apparatus for elevating oil comprising a well casing, a pumping tube telescoped therein and with its lower end submerged in a body of oil, a flow pipe extending downwardly through the pumping tube, said tube being sealed at its upper end around the pipe, an ejector casing mounted upon the lower end of the tube thereby forming a chamber therein, a nozzle having its open end directed within the flow pipe, a communicating valve passage between the nozzle and the said chamber, a check valve in said passage, a gas compressor communicating with the pumping tube and adapted to discharge gas through the valve passage and the nozzle into the flow pipe and direct a column of oil therein to an evacuated tank in communication with the flow pipe, the said tank having an oil drain at the bottom thereof and a gas outlet at the top, and means for maintaining a vacuum in the tank and returning the gas to the compressor, and other means for controlling the level of oil at the bottom of the tank.

7. An apparatus for elevating oil comprising a well casing, a pumping tube telescoped therein and with its lower end submerged in a body of oil, a flow pipe extending downwardly through the pumping tube, said tube being sealed at its upper end around the pipe, an ejector casing mounted upon the lower end of the tube thereby forming a chamber therein, and a valve passageway through the ejector casing and connected to a return bend having its nozzle age tank, and a connection between the 10 storage tank and the compressor.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM R. STUCK. Witnesses W. W. HEALEY, M. E. EWING. 

